How a Canadian conwoman scammed $12,000 out of Adelaide SAFM radio listeners to be focus of new documentary

In 2008, a Canadian woman conned SAFM and its listeners with an ever-expanding web of outrageous lies about cancer and a dead fiance. Now that story is headed for the small screen.

• Read the full story of SAFM hoax

The remarkable story of how an overseas conwoman swindled thousands of dollars out of Adelaide radio listeners is set to be the focus of a new documentary.

Amber Petty was co-host of SAFM’s breakfast show in 2008, when she and fellow presenters, Dave ‘Rabbit’ Rabbetts and Andrew ‘Cosi’ Costello, aired the heartbreaking tale of Canadian Sarah Robertson.

The Ontario native claimed to have terminal breast cancer and was just weeks away from tying the knot to an Adelaide man called Blaine Armstrong.

Her sad story inspired several listeners to call in and donate money to her cause – only for the radio presenters to discover about a year later that it was all a massive hoax.

The catfishing scam was a major part of Petty’s 2021 book, This is Not a Love Song, and now film producers are looking to bring the tall tale to the small screen.

Former SAFM breakfast radio team Dave “Rabbit” Rabbetts, Amber Petty and Andrew “Cosi” Costello.

Petty said she’s working with a film company who is hoping to turn it into an Australian-Canadian co-production.

“They found it quite fascinating... and the story is more important now than it was back then,” she said.

“Given the rise of social media, everything has changed so much. There’s so many vulnerable people out there and for the likes of Sarah and other catfishers, the world has become their digital oyster.”

Canadian conwoman Sarah Robertson, who scammed $12,000 out of Adelaide radio listeners in 2008.

The photo used by Canadian conwoman Sarah Robertson to scam SAFM presenters and listeners in 2008. Picture: Supplied by Amber Petty.

Petty uncovered Robertson’s web of lies in January 2010. The Canadian scam artist had faked her “death” and the identity of her Adelaide fiance, in the process, collecting about $12,000 in public donations from the station who had given her the money in good faith.

To this day, The Advertiser understands listeners who donated money have not been reimbursed. The station later donated $12,000 to the breast cancer foundation.

Costello said he’s still “mortified” that South Australians who donated have yet to receive their money back.

“It was a f***ing crazy story. There’s just so much to it, the lengths this lady went to... she had us hook, line and sinker,” he said.

“To think someone tricked us all, it’s bizarre. I’m still disappointed we didn’t fight harder to bring her to justice.”

Petty said Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar about another cancer scammer, Australian Belle Gibson, had only “heightened” interest around the SAFM story.

“There are so many learnings to be had. People need to do their due diligence,” Petty said.

“This whole scam culture in storytelling and the movie world is becoming a bigger and bigger issue – and it’s not going away.”

Former SAFM breakfast co-hosts Andrew “Cosi” Costello and Amber Petty.

Costello said he doesn’t believe Robertson committed the scam for the money.

“I think it was like the (Netflix series) Baby Reindeer thing – she was fixated on this dream world, this lie, and she got off on it in a real psychotic way,” said the South Aussie with Cosi host. “I think people just need to be really careful.”

Now based in Melbourne, Petty tried tracking down Robertson for several years. Incredibly, the Canadian emailed Petty in late 2019, finally admitting to the con and saying she wanted to “come clean”.

Robertson claimed at the time that she was dealing with mental health issues and drug addition when she orchestrated the hoax for “sh.ts and giggles”.

“It’s hard to forgive her when you still don’t think you were told the truth,” said Petty, who was last in contact with her in 2022. “Her excuses don’t sit well with me.”

SAFM declined to comment.

This is Not a Love Song – amberpetty.com.au

Originally published as How a Canadian conwoman scammed $12,000 out of Adelaide SAFM radio listeners to be focus of new documentary